Project: Development of Series Production Technology of Faceted Cutting Inserts based on Ceramic Nano-Composites using FAST/SPS method

During the project “SeProFast” a cost effective serial production method for cutting tools and wear parts will be developed, based on the Field Assisted Sintering Technology (FAST/SPS),. _x000D__x000D_A serial production by use of the FAST/SPS method gives new opportunities for the development and production of cutting tools and wear materials. Because of the short processing times and high pressures enabled by FAST/SPS, not only the energy consumption can be decreased drastically, but also the grain growth as well as diffusion dependent processes are significantly reduced or completely suppressed, allowing the generation of nanomaterials or metastable composites, which were impossible until now. Also entirely new material concepts are possible now and will be evaluated in the project. The Ps Neomat, Virial and IM Srl. are focusing strongly on this task. This parallel development will result in prototypes of highly improved wear and cutting materials based on nanostructured Al2O3/ZrO2/Ti(C,N) as well as composites in the matrix Ti(C,N)/TiB2. The successful development of such cutting tools will only be possible due to the availability of a fully automated, high speed FAST/SPS sintering technology, specially tailored for the mentioned materials and parts during the project.._x000D__x000D_FAST/SPS (an advanced Field Assisted Sintering Technology / Spark Plasma Sintering SPS method) is an innovative sintering technology which has become increasingly important in recent years, because of high heating rates and short soaking times compared with conventional hot pressing. FCT Systeme GmbH has produced and sold about 40 FAST/SPS units until now worldwide, which are operating very successfully both for research and development and also for industry. FCT as the producer of FAST/SPS equipments and technologies focus their development on achieving shorter cycle times and on automating the process with the goal to make the FAST/SPS technology more attractive for potential industrial costumers, resulting in a new generation of FAST/SPS-units called FAST² (FAST-square = fast FAST). The successful application of FAST² will only be possible due to the availability of adapted ceramic nanocomposite materials, specially tailored for FAST² during the project._x000D__x000D_The project consortium combines expertises in the preparation and development of nano composite powder (Neomat), in processing and densification of nanopowders by FAST/SPS and in material development (IKTS, UCDICM, IPMS), in material characterisation (IKTS, IPMS, Virial) and in production of prototypes and testing of cutting tools ( Virial, IM Srl, FCT) with the important expertise to develop the FAST/SPS system for the needs of the serial production of these materials (FCT). Thus the project consortium represents the complete value added chain for the industrial series production of high performance, cost efficient cutting tools._x000D__x000D_A successful project work will strongly increase the competitiveness of all project Ps in the European and worldwide cutting tool market._x000D_

Acronym SeProFAST (Reference Number: 6237)
Duration 01/09/2011 - 31/08/2014
Project Topic The project aims for an innovative, cost effective production method for faceted cutting inserts with superior performance characteristics, realized by the development of new ceramic nano-composites as well as a fully automated FAST/SPS sintering method, considering the whole value added chain.
Project Results
(after finalisation)
A fully automated FAST² sintering unit suitable for demonstrator geometry IFCIs was realized.
Network Eurostars
Call Eurostars Cut-Off 5

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
7 FCT Systeme GmbH Coordinator Germany
7 Frantsevich Institute for Problems of Materials Science Partner Ukraine
7 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Partner Germany
7 Innovative Materials Srl Partner Italy
7 Neomat Co. Partner Latvia
7 Università di Cagliari Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica e Materiali Partner Italy
7 VIRIAL Ltd. Partner Russia